New Bedford School Department says layoffs possible for next year

NEW BEDFORD — Layoff announcements at the School Department could occur in the coming weeks as the district nears completion of next year's budget, interim School Superintendent Mike Shea said.

NATALIE SHERMAN

NEW BEDFORD — Layoff announcements at the School Department could occur in the coming weeks as the district nears completion of next year's budget, interim School Superintendent Mike Shea said.

District leaders, who announced in February a $3 million shortfall in this year's budget, met this week with principals to discuss next year's budget and are in the process of reaching out to union leaders, he said.

"I think right now everybody's aware that with the financial straits we're in, there will be less people employed by the School Department than there (are) now," Shea said.

Shea said he does not yet know how many people will be laid off but expects the number to become clear in the next few weeks. Principals, who are taking on a greater role crafting the fiscal 2014 budget, will be asked to make recommendations about cuts, he said.

"We're going to look at all areas right now," said Shea. "It's not just teachers; it's not just custodians. We're looking at the bigger picture."

In fiscal 2013, the district received about $107 million, of which about 80 percent went to salaries, Business Manager Barry Haskell said. It spent closer to $110 million, due largely to positions that were not included in the budget, he said.

The state has not yet voted on appropriations for fiscal 2014 and Haskell declined to specify his expectations. He said it may be lower than the current spending level.

"I expect the district to have to make adjustments under the $110 million level based on what we project net school spending to be but, again, it's a fluffy number because no one's voted on it," he said.

Haskell said the district will be looking to redesign some programs and staff them more efficiently, but declined to predict how the budget constraints will affect overall employment.

"In some instances there would be increased staff. ... In others there are going to be decreased staff. Overall net, we're not quite sure," he said, adding that he hopes to present a budget to the School Committee by the end of the month.

New Bedford Educators Association President Lou St. John said he is aware cuts are possible and is scheduled to meet with Shea and Haskell next week to learn more.

"They did say there is a budget problem and there could be significant cuts, but at this point I don't know how many. I don't know where or which schools," he said.

Elaine Safioleas, who is retired, but served as an officer in the paraprofessionals union for 30 years, said she does not expect possible cuts to affect their members, given retirements and the high number of substitutes — non-union paraprofessionals — employed in the district right now.

The paraprofessional union represents about 240 people and there are also about 45 substitute paraprofessionals, she said.

"There may not be increases, but I honestly don't feel there will be decreases," she said, adding "I could be dead wrong."

School Committee member Bruce Oliveira said the School Committee has not seen a budget, but he expects to learn more at the finance subcommittee meeting next week.